A Hawthorne man accused of sending texts to Savannah Guthrie’s family asking about bitcoin demanded in a reported ransom letter made his first court appearance Friday after his arrest this week in Los Angeles.
Derrick Callella, 42, was charged with intent to transmit a demand for ransom and utilizing a telecommunications device to anonymously abuse, threaten or harass a person. The two messages were not linked to Monday’s reported ransom demand.
At his first court appearance in United States District Court in Santa Ana, a judge ordered Callella can be released on $20,000 bond. He was ordered not to contact victims or witnesses.
Arraignment was scheduled for Thursday.
The case stems from the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the “TODAY” show co-host’s 84-year-old mother, who was reported missing Sunday afternoon from her Arizona home after she did not attend church service. She was last seen the previous night when she was dropped off by family members at her home.
NBC News has reviewed a copy of what authorities have described as a possible ransom note sent to three news organizations earlier this week referencing Guthrie, and the contents are consistent with the descriptions provided by the FBI and those news outlets.
In a video posted Wednesday to Instagram, Savannah Guthrie pleaded with her mother’s possible kidnapper.
After the video was published, family members received separate text messages asking, “Did you get the bitcoin were (sic) waiting on our end for the transaction,” according to the criminal complaint charging Callella.
According to the complaint, law enforcement determined that number from which the texts were received was a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) application. The VOIP application allows a user to obtain another phone number for their mobile device that is separate from the one assigned by a carrier.
Callella admitted to sending the two text messages and was trying to see whether the family would respond, according to the complaint.
“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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